A row between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Ministry of Sports took a fresh turn last week with the former demanding an urgent review of the Sports Law before the election of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka is held.
The NOC election is scheduled for December 27 and campaigns are in full swing to get hold of the country’s most powerful sports body, but given the seriousness of the crisis, the election could be postponed until a compromise is reached between the IOC and the Ministry of Sports.
The IOC has its concerned with regard to the country’s Sports Law and the subsequent amendments included thereafter but local authorities claim that Sports Law No. 25 and the National Associations of Sports Regulations No. 01 of 2013 are aimed at dealing with institutionalized politics and corruption in sports bodies.
Pere Miro, National Olympic Committees Relations Director, IOC issuing a fresh warning to the Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage states that the election should be held in the presence of IOC and OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) observers upon the completion of the ‘roadmap’.
“Before the elections are held, we are therefore considering a ‘roadmap’ which should include in particular the revision of (i) the sports legislation (ii) the NOC constitution. This road map should be completed within a reasonable timeframe and would conclude with the NOC elections in the presence of IOC and OCA observes,” the letter issued on November 15, 2013 states.
While slamming the authorities for ignoring its previous warning issued on September 6, 2013, requesting for them ‘to review the current sports legislation to make it compatible with the basic principles of the Olympic Movement’, the IOC has invited Ministry of Sports and the NOC to attend an urgent meeting on November 27, 2013 at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“It is our understanding that the situation has deteriorated and external pressure and interferences is being exercised upon the national sports federations and the NOC of Sri Lanka.
“In order to review the situation and establish this roadmap in close consultation and agreement with all parties involved and, in particular, with you as far as the revision of the sports legislation are concerned, we would like to propose an urgent meeting with you and the NOC,” the latter added.
Sports Ministry has responded positively as it believes that a compromise should be reached in order to preserve Sri Lanka’s international sporting status and would attend the meeting in Lausanne. A high profile team of delegates, including the minister of sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage, his secretary Anura Jayawickrama will attend the meeting.
“I think they have been misinformed and misguided by our own people with vested interest. We will explain our position. Our interest is sports and not individuals here, so we will try to come to a compromise where all stakeholders could agree if that is what expected,” a top ministry official said.
However others argue that the issue could have been avoided if the Ministry had formulated the policy as per an evidence based approach and in consultation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“Although there were consultations between the Sports Ministry, the NOC and its affiliated Sports Federations when formulating the recent amendments to the Sports Law, it is obvious that their views have not been taken into account by the Sports Ministry,” an officials of the NOC committee said.
However it’s of paramount important for Sri Lanka to retain its affiliation to the IOC, not only to take part in IOC organized sporting events such as Olympics, Commonwealth and Asian Games but also reserve their funding for sports development.
“We hope that everyone understand the gravity of the situation and will join forces to find an adequate solution to resolve the issues at hand in accordance with the basic principles which govern the Olympic Movement and for the interest of sports and the athletes in your country,” Miro wrote.
